Genetic Disruption of SOD1 Gene Causes Glucose Intolerance and Impairs β-Cell Function Researchers determined whether inducing oxidative damage through genetic ablation of superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) leads to abnormalities in glucose homeostasis. Genetic ablation of SOD1 caused glucose intolerance, which was associated with reduced in vivo β-cell insulin secretion and decreased β-cell volume. [Diabetes] Abstract Losartan, an Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blocker, Protects Human Islets from Glucotoxicity through the Phospholipase C Pathway Researchers evaluated the beneficial effects of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibition on β-cell function under glucotoxic conditions. High glucose induced RAS activation with overexpression of AT1R mRNAs. [FASEB J] Abstract Antioxidant N-Acetylcysteine Protects Pancreatic β-Cells against Aldosterone-Induced Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis in Female db/db Mice and Insulin-Producing MIN6 Cells Scientists investigated whether oxidative stress is involved in and whether the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine or the mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist spironolactone could prevent or delay β-cell damage in vivo and in vitro. [Endocrinology] Abstract Pancreatic Differentiation of Human Dental Pulp CD117+ Stem Cells Scientists assessed differentiation of dental pulp stem cells toward a pancreatic lineage in serum-free conditions, which is essential for safe transplantation. [Regen Med] Abstract Nm23-H1 Regulates Glucose-Stimulated Insulin Secretion in Pancreatic β-Cells via Arf6-Rac1 Signaling Axis siRNA-mediated knockdown of the expression of nm23-H1 markedly inhibited glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) in INS-1 832/13 cells. Nm23-H1 knockdown also resulted in significant inhibition of glucose-mediated activation of Arf6, a small G-protein, which has been implicated in GSIS. [Cell Physiol Biochem] Full Article PANCREATIC CANCER Gemcitabine-Mediated Tumor Regression and p53-Dependent Gene Expression: Implications for Colon and Pancreatic Cancer Therapy Gemcitabine induced a potent p53-dependent apoptosis that correlated with the accumulation of pro-apoptotic proteins such as PUMA and Bax. This is accompanied by a drastic reduction in p2l and 14-3-3σ protein levels, thereby significantly sensitizing the cells to apoptosis. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article MicroRNA-141, Downregulated in Pancreatic Cancer, Inhibited the Cell Proliferation and Invasion by Directly Targeting MAP4K4 Researchers explored the role of microRNA (miR)-141 in pancreatic cancer. The clinical characteristics analysis showed that miR-141 was significantly down-regulated in pancreatic cancer tissues and cell lines. [Mol Cancer Ther] Abstract PIAS4 Is an Activator of Hypoxia Signaling via Von Hippel-Lindau Suppression during Growth of Pancreatic Cancer Cells Scientists explored the roles of PIAS4 in pancreatic tumorigenesis. Cell proliferation and invasion was studied after overexpression and gene silencing of PIAS4. The protein was overexpressed in pancreatic cancer cells compared with the normal pancreas. [Br J Cancer] Abstract HIF1 Contributes to Hypoxia-Induced Pancreatic Cancer Cells Invasion via Promoting QSOX1 Expression Both hypoxia and hypoxia mimicking reagent up-regulated the expression of quiescin sulfhydryl oxidase 1 (QSOX1) in human pancreatic cancer cell lines. Knockdown of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 α (HIF-1α) eliminated hypoxia induced QSOX1 expression. [Cell Physiol Biochem] Full Article Cleistanthane Diterpenes from the Seed of Caesalpinia sappan and Their Antiausterity Activity against PANC-1 Human Pancreatic Cancer Cell Line Cleistanthane diterpenes represent a novel class of antiausterity agents having preferential cytotoxicity against the PANC-1 human pancreatic cancer cell line under nutrient deprived conditions. [Fitoterapia] Abstract |